The Day You Begin
by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López • Related Edition: Spanish-Language
56 Total Resources 11 Awards View Text Complexity Discover Like Books
- Grade
- PK-2
- Genre
- Poetry
- Realistic Fiction
Year Published 2018
Word Count 622
- Text Complexity
- Lexile Level: 980L
- ATOS Reading Level: 4
- AR Quiz Numbers
- 197645
- Curricular Area
- English Language Arts
- Social Studies
- Subject Headings
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Friendship
- Individuality
- Schools
- Immigrants
- Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
- Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
- Individuality--Fiction
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Prejudice & Racism
- Immigrants--Fiction
- Schools--Fiction
- Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
- Friendship--Fiction
- Friendship
- Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction
- JUVENILE FICTION / Social Issues / Emotions & Feelings
- Lists With This Book
- Read Aloud 2018-19 Grade 3
- BER: What's New 2018: Top 100 Books
- Resources to Support Engage
- Dig Deeper: iREAD PreK & Early Literacy
- Race, Racism and Resistance
- Window and Mirrors
- Conversations through Literacy
- CPS Skyline Text Resources - Grade 1
- Netflix Bookmarks
- Diverse Lit Kits, K-3
- Reading Colors Your World: iREAD Child
- Reading Colors Your World: iREAD PreK
- Juvenile Fiction
- Black Lives Matter: Diversity
- Black Lives Matter: Empathy
- 3 Star Program, 2020 Young Readers Nomin
- Conscious Kid Project - Elementary
- Social Emotional Learning Picture Books
- Black History Month
- JCPS LMS Recommended Reading Grade K-2
- VA READS 2020 Picture Books for All Ages
Our Original Resources 10

Meet-the-Author Movie with Jacqueline Woodson
Created by TeachingBooks
Meet-the-Author Recording with Rafael López about The Day You Begin
Created by TeachingBooks
Audio Name Pronunciation with Jacqueline Woodson
Created by TeachingBooks
Audio Name Pronunciation with Rafael López
Created by TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks Guest Blogger: Rafael López “Stirring the Pot of Color: Illustrating Picture Books”
Created by the TeachingBooks Blog
Nonfiction Read and Respond Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Story Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Cultural Representation Reflection
Created by TeachingBooks
View Comprehensive Text Complexity Measures
Created by TeachingBooks
Submit Qualitative Text Complexity Rubric
Created by TeachingBooks
Book Guides, Activities & Lessons 9
Nonfiction Read and Respond Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Story Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Cultural Representation Reflection
Created by TeachingBooks
Read Aloud Tips from New Balanced Literacy Schools
Created by New Balanced Literacy Schools

Educator Guide from Penguin Publishing Group USA
Created by Penguin Publishing Group USA
Lesson Plan from WITS for Schools
Created by WITS for Schools
Read Aloud Guide from Oakland Literacy Coalition
Created by Oakland Literacy Coalition

Educator's Guide from Vermont Department of Libraries
Created by Vermont Department of Libraries

Teaching Ideas from Unleashing Readers
Created by Unleashing Readers
Book Readings 3

Complete Video Reading narrated by Jacqueline Woodson
Created by Netflix

Complete Video Reading narrated by Miss Linda
Created by Brightly Storytime

Audiobook Excerpt narrated by Jacqueline Woodson
Created by Books On Tape® / Listening Library
Book Trailers 1

Video Book Trailer from Penguin Kids
Created by Penguin Kids
Awards & Distinctions 11

Charlotte Huck Award, 2015-2021
Commended, 2019

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 1998-2020
Commended, 2019

Notable Children's Books, 1995-2021
Commended, 2019

CCBC Choices
Selection, 2019

ILA Teachers' Choices Reading List, 2015-2020
Selection, 2019

Notable Books for a Global Society, 1996-2020
Selection, 2019

Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award, 1997-2020
Selection, 2019

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2020
Nonfiction Selection, 2018

SLJ Best Books of the Year, 2010 - 2020
Selection, 2018
Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their Twitter handles.